THE Sir Arthur Lewis Community College congratulates 2019 SALCC graduate Rahym Augustin-Joseph on his selection as Valedictorian for the upcoming UWI Cave Hill Campus Graduation on October 21, 2023.
Graduating with First Class Honours in Political Science and Law from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Rahym has proven to be an exceptional scholar and visionary youth leader.
Rahym also graduated as Valedictorian of his SALCC class in 2019. He made his mark with his exceptional oratory skills and as a student leader serving as President of the Student Council. Rahym is a valued alumnus who continues to work closely with the College when he is in Saint Lucia.
During his undergraduate degree, at the UWI Cave Hill, Rahym continued to be an avid student leader, public speaker, debater, and mooter. Most recently, he led the UWI team at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) International Mooting Competition 2023, where he received the Inaugural Sir Henry Forde Award for Best Oralist, which was provided to the oralist who showed exemplary advocacy skills during the competition.
Notably, Rahym’s leadership extends beyond academic excellence. Leading the UWI team to a second-place victory and securing the title of Best Academic Institution at the CCJ competition showcases his prowess in team dynamics and strategic thinking.
Adding to his accolades, Rahym’s selection as one of three Caribbean nationals for the Garvey-Nkrumah Legal Fellowship underscores his commitment to addressing underrepresentation in the legal field. This global fellowship has taken him to Accra, Ghana and afforded him a prestigious summer internship with the OECS Commission in Saint Lucia.
Before his university studies, Rahym consistently won Best Speaker Awards at local and regional debates, foreshadowing his current success as an eloquent and persuasive orator.
While at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, Rahym served in multiple leadership capacities, including the Guild of Students Council and the Vice Chancellor’s Ambassador Corps. His dedication to highlighting the contributions of young people was evident as the host of the UWITV Programme, Generation Nexx.
Maintaining the highest academic standards, Rahym was frequently on the Dean’s List while contributing significantly to political discourse through his guest columns in Barbados Today and the Saint Lucia Star.
Under the guidance of acclaimed Political Scientists in the Caribbean, Rahym has transformed knowledge gained at the UWI into practical insights. From election watches to panel discussions on Constitutional Reform and Democracy, he has exhibited a keen analytical mind which caused him to be among one of the youngest to be part of an OAS Electoral Observer Mission in Grenada in 2021 in order to observe and make recommendations on improving the electoral and democratic framework.
As he eagerly anticipates the graduation ceremony on October 21st, 2023, Rahym is already pursuing his LLB as part of his ambitious journey toward becoming an Attorney-At-Law at the UWI Cave Hill Campus.
Saint Lucians can witness the graduation ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, October 21, 2023, which will be broadcast via UWITV on Flow and various online platforms. Rahym Augustin-Joseph’s journey is an inspiration, promising a future filled with impactful contributions to law, politics, and academia.